Taping of NBC's 'Fashion Star' halted by picketers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Union picketing has brought a temporary halt to second-season production of the NBC reality show "Fashion Star."

About 70 members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees picketed the show Saturday at Hollywood Center Studios, prompting producers to cancel a taping and dismiss a studio audience.

IATSE official Vanessa Holtgrew told the Hollywood Reporter the union was striking against the show until a contract is reached.

The union allows members to work on the non-union "Fashion Star," but they get no pension and health benefits without a union contract.

IATSE is fighting to keep a foothold as union-heavy productions like feature films in Los Angeles increasingly give way to productions that tend to be non-union like reality shows.

NBC and the show's three production companies had no immediate comment.